Alfeed benjamin



(No Model.)

A. BENJAMIN.

SPRING OR REED FOR SUPPORTING GARMENTS.

No. 861,982. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALFRED BENJAMIN, OF NEVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD BENJAMIN, OF SAME PLACE.

SPRING OR REED FOR SUPPORTING GARMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO- 361,982, dated April 26,1887.

Application filed December 11, 1886. Serial No. 221,309. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED BENJAMIN, of Newark, inthe county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Springs or Reeds for Supporting Dresses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make use the same.

My invention relates to the springs or reeds for supporting the bodies and skirts of ladies dresses. The principal object of this invention is to mprove the method of constructing the yieldlng stiffeners used in connection with the bodies and skirts of ladies dresses to permit them to be securely attached in place by sewing them directly tothe lining of the dress without perforations of the body of the steel strip or the necessity of providing casings in the dresslining for their reception.

A further object is to secure the body of the steel strips thatconstitute the springs in place in the woven fabric that envelops them by a metallic tip struck up by dies and clinched in place upon the ends of the stay-springs that are used to support waist-bodies of dresses.

A further object is to provide a secure means of attaching speedily, neatly, and securely elastic adjusting straps and buckles to the ends of spring skirt-extenders.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain peculiar features of construction and combinations of relative parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a set of dressex tenders removed from the garment, showing different methods of attachment of the elastic straps. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a dressskirt with the extenders attached thereto,showing the method of attachment to the skirt by stitching the edge to the skirt fabric. Fig. 3 shows the manner of securing the fabric upon the steel springs used for waist supports or stiffeners. Figs. 4,4,and 4" show modifications of the waist-springs.

On the 27th day of August, 1886, I filed an application,No. 212,014, for a patent forsprings to support the rear portions of ladies skirts. In this application was shown a metal spring covered with woven fabric and provided with elastic straps flexible at each end to adjust the dress-extender in place to permit it to properly support the skirt in lieu of a bustle. The skirt-extender strips were made of graded lengths and were perforated in their surface at several points to permit them to be attached to the dress-skirt lining by sewing through these perforations in the steel plates.

In my present invention I have provided an improved means of attachment of the springs to the dress or skirt thatis applicable to stays for ladies dress-bodies,as well as the support in a distended position of the skirts of such dresses, or an underskirt, if preferred.

In the drawings that represent the steel stiffeners or cores for the waists of womens dresses, A represents the body or center part.

' These are preferably made of strips of elastic steel of a proper tensional strength for the use to which they are applied, that may be made of graded lengths to suit the positions upon the waist of the garment, and are covered by tape or other suitable woven fabric that is made to envelop the body of the springs. The flexible fibrous envelope just described is made of such a relative width to its contained steel spring A that a projection, a, will be formed outside each edge of the spring, the outer side edge of each projection being parallel or approximately parallel with the side' edges of the spring A. The material of the enveloping'case is sufficiently stable to afford a secure pliable projection that can be sewed or stitched lengthwise of the spring A to fasten this stiffening-spring in its proper spaced position upon the waist-lining of a ladys dress.

The ends of the body stay-springs A are perforated at their ends, as shown at b, Fig. 4, for the purpose of furnishing additional means for the attachment of the fibrous covered steel spring A and its fibrous envelope to the garment by sewing through these perforations in the springs.

A preferred form of effecting the retention of the spring in its cloth shield or case is shown at c c, Fig. 1. This consists of a metallic tip stamped into form, and affixed by pressure, causing it to clasp the cloth between its opposed edges securely. The latter method of securing the springs in their envelopes will also provide a'smooth finish to the ends of the stay-springs, and so prevent injury to clothing.

The skirt-extenders B B are made similar to the waiststeels in regard to their fibrous covering, having the same provision for attachment to the cloth of the garment by stitching outside each edge of the centrally-located spring.

A suitable number of the springs are used to constitute a set for a garment, and these are preferably graded in length to suit the position occupied on the skirt to obtain satisfactory results, any suitable number of the springs being used.

At the ends of the elastic reeds or strips B B, that are enveloped with fibrous material, the'elastic adjusting-straps O O are affixed. In order that these straps may be firmly secured in their place, I attach them by metallic clip-plates c, that are first stamped into form to fit upon the ends of the fibrous elastic straps, the ends of this elastic material being placed in contact with the fibrous covered ends of the elastic metal extenderstrips by folding them upon these ends. Then by a hammer-stroke, the compression of dies, or other suitable mea us, the edges of the metal clips are made to conform to the surface of the compressed material, and being embedded therein will hold the attached pieces in close fixed contact. A further means of security, to prevent the detachment of. the elastic straps from the metallic strips or reeds, is shown at F F in Fig. 1. At these points the metal strips are perforated to receive eyelets, that are inserted through the fibrous covered metal strips, and also through tabs or short projecting ends f of the elastic straps O 0. By this means the strain on the connected ends will be prevented from dislodging the clip from its seat by the securing of the tab end of the elastic strap by the eyelets F F, as shown and described.

The springs B B are sewed in place upon the inner surface of a dress-lining, or in some cases upon a separate under-garment, and in such relative position to the waist of the wearer as to answer the purposes of a bustle, the adjusting straps or bands 0 0 being drawn together and secured by the buckles to form a pannier 0r bustle that is integral with the skirt, and that maybe graded to give a greater or less distention of the skirt of the outside dress to comply with the demands of fashion or suit the taste of the wearer.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A spring for garments, consisting, essentially, of a central yielding core, a fibrous envelope wider than the core and projecting be yond the sides thereof to enable the spring to be stitched to a garment, clips secured to the ends of said core and overlapping the fibrous envelope, and elastic straps attached to the ends of the spring by eyelets passing through the straps and spring, substantially as set forth. 2. A spring for garments, consisting, essentially, of a central yielding core, a fibrous envelope, clips secured to the ends of said core and overlapping the fibrous envelope, and an elastic strap attached to each end of the spring by eyelets passing through the straps and spring, substantially as set forth.

3. A spring for garments, consisting, essentially, of a yielding core, a fibrous envelope surrounding the core and provided with perforations at each end thereof, two elastic straps, one attached to each end of the spring by a metal clip, and also by an eyelet inserted through the perforation in the spring, and through an end of the elastic strap, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED BENJAMIN. 

